Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-26
AN EXPERIENCE.

Yes, indeed, l used to be awfully
afraid OF Death; didn't want to hear
anything about is-iidp't want to even
think of 1t. You see, I'd never been
brought very close to it. My grand.
father and grandmother all died before
l was born, and my father and mother
both passed away when l was but
baby girl, and sinca then, though there
are four brothers and six sisters-of
whom 1 am the youngest, and m 38-
and any number of nephews aud nieces
and seven grandchildren in our family
circle, 1t has remained unbroken. As
for uuc.es and aunts and couslns, be-
lieve we have some such relations in
various parts of the country, but as we
never made their acquaintance we have
never bsep called upon to mourn the
less of any of them. 30 could only
imagine the final parting with beloved
one, and to me it seemed the saddest OF
all sad things in this world of trials and
sorrows.
But after that death bed. But wait,
I'll tell you all about it. had a friend =,
o very dear friend, beautiful woman .
with lovely blue eyes, and bright
golden hair. She had just begun a
promising career as singer after long
years of hard study, when she was
stricken down by that fatal disease,
consumption.
went to see her, and, although in
her own home, surrounded by her own
kin who served her with willing hands
and loving hearth, she begged me to
stay few days with her. I'VE have
always been such good comrades" she
| M M
well, that it will be real comfort to
have you near me. ! am sure 1t will
| not be long before l am well again
This is a very heavy cold, out Il will
/ ear away as other heavy colds l have
1 had"
50 stayed, but, alas She got nc
better but grew wesker and weaker
every day. Still she cl ung 10 this hope
OF resaining her health and strength.
81 will not de- she said. This
Grid is too dear to me. l tremble q
the thought of leaving it. l will no
die"
Well, after had been with her nearl,
4 three weeks, one stormy night the win,
1 was blowing and the rain was fallin
In torrents, said to her, "How glad W
ought 10 be that we ale sheltered fron
that terrible storm"
'How glad l would be-" she faintl
, 1 replied-her voice hal grown so wea
It was scarcely above q whisper-"if
| were able to be out in it," Then sh
! begged me to lie down on tina loupa
. |. opposite her bed. "You are tired" st
! said; ''sleep awhile and l will try
sleep, too"
I lay down, closed my eyes and ha
: just fallen asleep, when a glad, e.
9 | ultapt voice awakened me. II WAS m
friend who called. Yes, she who but
few moments before could speak onl
in the iaintest tone.
She had half risen in her bed. h
D eyes, shining with celestial ligh', we
:, raised to heaven, and, believe me I
IS not, but l swear to you it is true, ha
10 OF wonderful brightness encircied b
d golden head,
1t 'Oh, what coward /. have beer
n she cried in clear, ringing tones, -
4. fear the coming of death-to cling
|, this poor world with such a glorio
- land beyond. Beautiful ange!s-d;
:. ling mother, am ready" Then, Jul
~ ing her eyes upon me, shs went
=. ID ear, this Is death, and it ia far,
Ve loyelier than life." And as the gold
n head sank back uroa the pillows. :
OF faded away and the blue eyes CLOSE d
to open no more on earthly scenes
IL 1 will ouly add that she had ne
a. been told OF the passing away Of
4 .osrlinG mother, lit having taken PHI
"a during her own Illness, and that ell
= that night have never been afraid
a Death. MARGARET ETYIN CT